Coconut and Coconut Products

Coconut palms grow throughout Thailand – and all of South-east Asia. They fringe the golden beaches, surround small villages and soften the silhouettes of palaces and temples.

Coconuts are a very important resource for the Thais. The palm fronds are woven into mats or baskets or used as simple roofing material; the fibrous outer husks that protect the nuts can be used as fuel or made into mats or ropes; the young shoots are a delicious ingredient in curries and the blossoms are a source of sugar. As for the coconut itself, the hard shell can be used as a simple drinking or eating vessel, made into a utensil or carved to make an ornament or piece of jewellery. The nutritious milk can be drunk or used in curries and desserts, and the nut can be eaten as it is, or transformed into oil, and even sunscreens.